Cabot Phillips

These incidents are referred to as runway incursions by the FAA. For example, in the last few months alone, two planes at Reagan Airport in D.C. were forced to abort landings when helicopters entered restricted airspace. A few weeks before that, at the same airport, two planes clipped wings on a runway.

Similar incidents have been reported this year at Chicago's Midway, DFW, and Hartsfield-Jackson in Atlanta. So this is a widespread issue. And perhaps most concerning, on April 29th, air traffic controllers at Newark International reported experienced a systems outage that knocked out their radar, leaving numerous planes essentially flying dark.

Similar incidents have been reported this year at Chicago's Midway, DFW, and Hartsfield-Jackson in Atlanta. So this is a widespread issue. And perhaps most concerning, on April 29th, air traffic controllers at Newark International reported experienced a systems outage that knocked out their radar, leaving numerous planes essentially flying dark.

CNN obtained audio of that terrifying moment where controllers were unable to see or hear nearby pilots for 60 to 90 seconds. Have a listen.

CNN obtained audio of that terrifying moment where controllers were unable to see or hear nearby pilots for 60 to 90 seconds. Have a listen.

And that incident came amid existing air traffic controller shortages and equipment failures at Newark, which have led to now 14 straight days of significant delays at Newark. Those were imposed by the FAA. And while Newark is dealing with the most serious issues right now, plenty of other airports are dealing with problems of their own.

And that incident came amid existing air traffic controller shortages and equipment failures at Newark, which have led to now 14 straight days of significant delays at Newark. Those were imposed by the FAA. And while Newark is dealing with the most serious issues right now, plenty of other airports are dealing with problems of their own.

Well, first is the ongoing FAA worker shortage. The administration says they are in need of 3,500 new air traffic controllers to hit their target number. For months now, existing controllers have been stretched thin, working mandatory overtime and even six-day work weeks. But according to Duffy, arguably the biggest problem plaguing the FAA is outdated technology.

Well, first is the ongoing FAA worker shortage. The administration says they are in need of 3,500 new air traffic controllers to hit their target number. For months now, existing controllers have been stretched thin, working mandatory overtime and even six-day work weeks. But according to Duffy, arguably the biggest problem plaguing the FAA is outdated technology.

Many of the administration's systems and computers are literally from the 80s, Some controllers still rely on floppy disks. For our younger listeners, you can Google what those are. And because the FAA tech is so old, Duffy says it's difficult to even find technicians who actually know how to operate and work on these systems.

Many of the administration's systems and computers are literally from the 80s, Some controllers still rely on floppy disks. For our younger listeners, you can Google what those are. And because the FAA tech is so old, Duffy says it's difficult to even find technicians who actually know how to operate and work on these systems.

He's now calling for Congress to allocate tens of billions of dollars to fund a revolutionary overhaul of the FAA.

He's now calling for Congress to allocate tens of billions of dollars to fund a revolutionary overhaul of the FAA.

Now, some Democrats say the Trump administration is to blame. They argue that those cuts have impacted FAA preparedness. At that point, here's House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries.

Now, some Democrats say the Trump administration is to blame. They argue that those cuts have impacted FAA preparedness. At that point, here's House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries.

And while the Trump administration did cut about 400 FAA jobs, that amounts to less than 1% of the department's workforce. And according to a Transportation Department spokesperson, nearly all of those let go were probationary employees who'd been at the agency for less than two years. The White House, for their part, has been quick to note that FAA shortages began under President Biden.

And while the Trump administration did cut about 400 FAA jobs, that amounts to less than 1% of the department's workforce. And according to a Transportation Department spokesperson, nearly all of those let go were probationary employees who'd been at the agency for less than two years. The White House, for their part, has been quick to note that FAA shortages began under President Biden.

They argue that he put Americans at risk by lowering standards to encourage the hiring of more minority air traffic controllers.

They argue that he put Americans at risk by lowering standards to encourage the hiring of more minority air traffic controllers.

Yeah.